Page 41 of The Twisted Beats

It worked. I tip my chin up to give him better access.

He cups his hand around the back of my neck and glances at my mouth. His face is so close to mine, but he pulls back and steps away. My chest caves in.

“Lily, we can’t. Not until your parents say it’s okay.”

“They don’t have to know.”

“But they will.”

“How?”

He points down the hall. “All it takes is your ma to come out and see us. If that happens, they’ll never leave us alone or allow us to go out without their supervision.”

My shoulders roll forward. “Fine, but you know you want to.”

“You have no idea.” He laughs under his breath.

A smile grows across my face. “That’s nice to hear. And so you know, the feeling is mutual.”

“I know it is.” He takes one more lingering gaze down my body. “I’m so fucking screwed.”

“No, you’re not. My parents will give in soon enough. Trust me. It never takes me that long to break them down.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I give them no more than two weeks.”

“How do you figure?”

“We asked them before you went on tour. You’ve been back for a month, but we didn’t bring it up again until the other day. It never takes me longer than a few weeks to get my way.”

He raises an eyebrow. “So you’re a master at the game?”

“Yep.” I hold up two fingers, indicating the time we have to wait. “It will happen.”

He rounds the counter and sits on a stool.

I narrow my eyes. “Why did you go over there? You’re going to help me. Aren’t you?”

“I moved so I don’t do something stupid. You look like a twenty-five-year-old rock goddess. I’m dying over here and need the space. And yes, I’m gonna help.”

My chest grows warm. “Am I really getting to you that much?”

He huffs. “Ah, yeah. Just look at yourself.”

“I had some help, but I’ll admit, she did well. I love the new style.”

“How are the studio executives gonna handle you shaving half your head?”

“It won’t matter.”

“Why?”

“Most of the time, I wear a wig so they don’t ruin my hair.” I move a bowl full of cookie dough and slide it to him. “They’re getting ready to have my character grow up anyway, so it works with my script.”

He takes a moment, then gestures to the baking items. “Why are we doing this? You could’ve picked anything to do here at the house, but you decided we should make cookies?”

“I wasn’t going to play video games with you. I wanted to spend time doing something where I could tease you. Besides, you’re helping me out with work.”